LOST HIKER RESCUED ON POWAY’S IRON MOUNTAIN

POWAY 
Sheriff’s search and rescue teams on Wednesday morning located a hiker who became lost on Iron Mountain in Poway overnight.

The 22-year-old man was reported missing about 2:30 a.m. by his family, and a search was launched, sheriff’s spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said. He had left for the outing about 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Crews started gearing up around 4 a.m. and headed up the mountain about an hour later, Caldwell said. The hiker said he was about to try to find his way down when he heard the searchers calling his name around 6:30 a.m., she said.

He told deputies that he had reached the summit and then was unsure how to get back.

His cellphone did not have reception, and then the battery — and the daylight — ran out, so he decided stay put, Caldwell said.

She said the hiker said he had water, a backpack and a sweater, and spent the night sleeping near a rock.

After his rescue, medics checked him out and released him to his parents, Caldwell said.